Number of active U.S. drilling rigs down this week

HOUSTON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased to 755 this week, down by three from the previous week but up by 82 from this time last year, according to the weekly data released by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Friday.

These active drilling rigs included 592 oil rigs operating in U.S. oil fields, down by one from the previous week; 160 gas rigs, down by two from last week; and three miscellaneous rigs, the same as last week.